According to this review, there is a substantial lack of evidence-based research evaluating the specific effects of aquatic interventions in this population.

To investigate the reliability and validity of 2 aquatic functionalassessment tests (Water Orientation Test of Alyn 1 and 2: WOTA1, WOTA2) for evaluating adjustment and functional ability in the aquatic environment based on the Halliwick concept. Methods: Thirty-two children with disabilities participated in the reliability study. Thirty-three other children participated in the validity study, which tested the correlations between the WOTA total score and motor performance on land. Results: Test-retest reliability for total score was found to be excellent for both WOTA1 (ICC = .97) and WOTA2 (ICC = .97). The reliability for most of the individual item scores was fair to good (kappa > .4). A positive moderately significant association was found between the WOTA total score and motor performance on land. Conclusion: Both assessments appear to be reliable and valid for assessing mental adjustment and aquatic function in children with disabilities.

Aim. To evaluate the effects of aquatic (AQ) compared to a land-based (LB) intervention programs on metabolic cost of walking (MCW), gross motor function and locomotor performance in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods. Eleven children with spastic diplegic CP completed this study, six in the AQ (5.2 ± 1.45 yrs) and five in the LB group (4.1 ± 1.33 yrs). MCW derived from Oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) measured with a Cosmed K4 device and walking speed at steady state. Additional measures included the 10-m test, Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), and Pediatric Evaluation Developmental Inventory (PEDI). Non-parametric statistics were used to analyze change in each group. Results. The AQ group significantly decreased MCW (Z = −2.2; P < .05) and increased steady state walking speed (Z = −2.2; P < .05). Both groups significantly increased 10-m walking speed (Z = −2.2; P < .03, and Z = −2.02; P < .05, resp.). The LB group exhibited moderate to large effect sizes in 10-m self-selected and fast walking speeds (Cohen's d = 1.07 and 0.73, resp.). Conclusion. Our findings suggest that Both AQ and LB programs were effective in improving 10-m speed, while the AQ training also improved the MCW of walking at steady state in children with spastic diplegic CP.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between motor performance in the aquatic setting as measured by the Aquatic Independence Measure (AIM) to motor performance on land as measured by the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Fourty- nine children with neuro-motor impairments ages 3 to 7 participated in the study. Pearson correlations were applied to determine the relationships between the AIM and the GMFM, PEDI, and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Significant correlations were found between the total AIM and GMFM scores (r = 69, p < .01) and PEDI self-care sub-scale (r = .79, p < .01) as well as the PEDI mobility sub-scale scores (r = .35, p < .05). The water adjustment sub-scale as measured by the AIM showed the strongest relationship to motor performance on land as measured by the GMFM and PEDI in our sample of 49 children.